Automatic toaster



I H. BIEBEL 2,266,301

AUTOMATIC TOASTER Filed June 29, 4 Sheets sheet 2 Dec. 16, 1941. BIEBEL 2,266,301

AUTOMATIC TOASTER Filed June 29, 1938 4 shets sheet 3 Fig ."7

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Z Herman MLBLeloel Patented Dec. 16, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Y AUTOMATIC TOASTER Herman M. Biebel, Elgln, 111., assignmto McGraw Electric Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware I Application June 29,1938, Serial No. 215,491

25 Claims.

a fully automatic electric toaster in which thecontrol switch is-closed and the bread slice support moved to toasting position by electromagnetic motor means energizable by push button circuit means.

Another object of my invention is to provide a fully automatic electric toaster having push button controlled electromagnetic motor means for initiating a toasting operation, and automatic thermal timing means for terminating a toasting operation.

Still another object of my invention is toprovide an automatic intermittently operable electric toaster having electromagnetic motor means for initiating a toasting operation and timing means for terminating a toasting operation, the operation of both said means being initiated at the beginning of a toasting operation by a push button control circuit.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a fully automatic electric toaster requiring only the location of a slice of bread on a movable support and a momentary pressure on a switch for initiating and completinga toasting operation. 7

Other objects of my invention will either be apparent from a description of several forms of device embodying my invention or will be here-' inafter pointed out in the course of such description and set forth in the appended claims.

I am well aware that electromagnetic motor-- means of one kind or another have been used in electric toasters, but so far as I known such patents or devices do not disclose the particular combination of details constituting my invention as shown in the drawings and as set forth in the description thereof to be given hereinafter.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a central vertical section through a toaster embodying my invention, taken on the line l| of Fig. 3, the parts being shown in nontoasting positions,

' Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectiontherethrough taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3, the parts being shown in non-toasting position.

- Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional plan view there-.

through taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view showing the stationary parts of an'electric switch controlling the holding circuit,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary rear vertical sectional view on .the line 5-5 of Fig. 3 showing certain of the parts in toasting position,

Fig. 6 is a wiring diagram of the toaster shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 8 showing a modified form of fully automatic toaster showing the parts in nontoasting positions,

Fig. 8 is a front elevational view, partially in section, taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 'l and showing the parts in non-toasting position,

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 10, showing a bellcrank detent in combination with a solenoid, which locks the bread slice support in toasting position and then releases it to non-toasting position,

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional plan view taken on the line Ill-Ill of Fig. 7, and,

Fig. 11 is a wiring diagram used in the toaster structure shown in Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10.

Referring first to Figs, 1 to 6 inclusive I have there shown a fully automatic electric oven-type toaster including a base 2| of skeleton form and which may preferably be made of a molded composition material having associated therewith a removable crumb tray 23. A bottom plate 25 which may preferably be made of metal is secured in any suitable or desired way against the upper recessed surface of member 2| and as shown this i is accomplished by the use of a plurality of screws cient to permit of locating between each pair of planar heating elements a slice of bread. While I have shown a toaster designed to receive two slices of bread and toast them simultaneously, I do not wish to be limited thereto as any other desired number of slices of bread may be toasted at the same time or only one slice maybe toasted at one time. Each slice of bread is supported on a vertically movable bread slice support 3|.

. The bread slice supports are adapted to move in part by the outermost electric heating elements and arear intermediate wall 33 and a front intermediate wall 35. Means for maintaining a substantially horizontal position of the reslides 31 secured to the bread supports and movable in a vertical slot 39 in rear wall 33. 'It may be noted that each bread slice support 31 has a portion ll extending through the slot 33 which portion is secured to'the slides 31, which, as

- shown particularly in Fig. 3 of the drawings, may

-a plurality oflongitudinally extending slots 41 to permit of inserting and removing a slice of spective bread slice supports 31 may include vertically within a toasting chamber constituted be secured to bottom plate 25 and the upper end of which may be secured to the upper end of wall 35. A 'magnetizable core 35 is adapted to move vertically in electromagnet 3i and has secured thereto a piston 91 movable in an air cylinder 39 which latter is suitably secured to bracket' 33. The cylinder 39 is provided with an adjustable air outlet including an adjustable neebread between each of the pairs of vertical heating elements 29. A top frame plate 49 (see Fig. 1) may be provided to hold the upper edges of the front and rear intermediate walls 33 and 35 in proper spaced-apart positions and may also support guard wires 5| in a mannernow well known in the art. These guard wires may extend through lateral projections 53 on supports 3|,

which projections are perforated to receive the guard wires.

The bottom plate may be provided with openings 55 therein, which openings are the counterpart of openings 41 in the cover to permit a through draft of cooling air to flow through the toasting chamber. While no specific means is shown for holding the upper edgesof the respective heating elements in proper operative position these means are old and wellknown in the art and reference may be had to Ireland Pat. No. 2,001,362 for such details. It is to be understood that the details of construction of a toaster assembly thus far enumerated constitute no part of my invention but are already old and well known in the art and further while I have illustrated and described such specific details, my invention is not limited thereto but is applicable to substantially any form of intermittently operable toaster as well as to other cooking appliances where food is subjected to a heat treatment similar to that experienced by bread when being toasted. I desire it therefore to be understood that where, in the appended claims, a toasting operation is recited, it is to be construed broadly enough to cover any type of heat treatment 'of food in a manner similar to that effected by a toasting operation.

A normally open control switch for the electric heating units 29 may include a substantially fixed contact and a movable contact arm 59 shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawingswhich contacts are insulatedly mounted on front intermediate wall and are also suitably electrically insulated from one another, contact arm 59 being so designed and constructed that the switch is normally open.

Means for closing said switch includes an electromagnet 61 which may be supported between the front wall of casing 43 and front intermediate wall 35 as by a bracket 63 the end of which may dlepoint 1| to thereby vary the rate of movement of piston 31 when being forced upwardly by energized core 35 in the operation of the device.

At its lower end core member 35 is provided with a depending bracket 13 which is mechanically connected to a lever arm 15 pivotally mounted intermediate its ends at 11 on bracket 33, which has a portion extending upwardly for this purpose close to the front surface of wall 35. The rear end of lever arm 15 extends through a vertical slot 19 in the rear intermediate wall 33 and is adapted to receive a horizontal rod 13 extending through an elongated slot in rearward extensions 41 of bread slice supports 3| so that downward movement of the rear end of lever 15 will result in downward movement of bread slice supports 3|. A coil spring 93 has its lower end secured to the rear end of lever arm 15 and its upper end secured to a bracket 85 to bias the rear end of lever arm 15 and the bread slice supports into an upper position where the bread slice supports will be in non-toasting positions.

Means for moving the contact arm 59 into engagement with fixed contact 51, may include a pivotally mounted second armature 81, of substantially L -shape, having one part of plate shapelocated in substantially horizontal position below the solenoid 6i and an upwardly extending portion provided with a lug 89 of electric-insulating" material adapted to be used as astop against the solenoid 6i and to engage the contact arm 59 to move it into engagement with contact 51. When solenoid 51 is energized the lower portion of armature 81 will move upwardly and cause a counterclockwise turning movement of the upper or substantially vertical extending portion of member 81 (as seen in Fig. 1) resulting in engagement of the two contact arms 51 and 59 and consequent energization of the main heating elements 29; A push button switch 91 biased to open position may be mounted in any suitable or desired location such as at the front of the casing on and immediately above the skeleton frame 21 which push button switch is effective to momentarily energize solenoid 61 to not only close the main heating element control switch but also to cause movement of the bread slice supports from non-toasting into toasting position. Continued energization of the solenoid is necessary to maintain these parts in their operative positions.

Continuance of the energization of solenoid BI is effected by a holding circuit and contacts sliding on fixed and extended contact members including two metallic contact bars 93 and 95 (see Fig. 4) which are partially embedded in a block 91 of electric insulating material supported on the inside of bracket 63 in any suitable or desired manner. Bracket 13 carried by'core member-65 has insulatedly mounted thereon and movable therewith a spring contact member 99 adapted to engage and electrically connect the two bars 93 and 95. The design and construction of bars 93 and 95 and contact bridging member 99 is such that normally member 99 is out of engagement with said contact bars 93 and 95, this position being shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, but on momentary energization of solenoid the core is quickly moved upwardly and bridging member 00 will engage bars 90 and to close a holding circuit so that energization of the solenoid 0| is continued until interrupted by other means now to be described.

It is obvious that coil spring 03 biases the bread slice support to upper position and that the main control switch is also biased to openposition because of the weight of the substantially horizontally extending part of pivotally mounted auxiliary armature 81.

It is desired that downward movement of the bread slices be effected relatively slowly vfor a purpose which will presently appear and this is accomplished by the use of the piston 61 moving.

in the air cylinder 69. Adjustment of the valve II will effect a variation in the speed of movement of the parts operatively connected therewith.

Means for causing termination of a toasting operation includes a main bimetal element IIII which may be suitably and preferably insulatedly supported on a bracket I03 at one side of the solenoid structure hereinbefore described and it may be noted that bimetal element IOI may be cause its lower end to flex in a counterclockwise direction.

A second bimetal element I01 may be insulatedly mounted on front intermediate wall 35 and be subjected either to radiant heat through an aperture in front intermediate wall 35 or may be subjected only to radiant heat from front intermediate wall 35 as may be found necessary or desirable. Bimetal element I01 isdesigned and constructed to move or to flex in a counterclockwise direction when heated.

Referring now to Fig. 6 of .the drawings Ihave there illustrated a diagram of the connection of the various parts and electrical circuits relating to the elements hereinbefore described from which it will be noted that auxiliary heating element I05 is connected in series circuit relation with'coil 6| and with a current limiting resistor I09. It will "further be apparent that bimetal elements I0! and I0! are so electrically connected in circuit that when they engage they will short-circuit coil 5! thereby deenergizing it and causing opening of the main control switch and upward movement of the bread supports into non-toasting position by action of biasing spring 83.

The rear end of lever arm I5 has insulated mounted thereon a contact bridging member III rlraeint I05, resulting in cooling of bimetal element As has been set forth hereinbefore bimetal element IIII flexes in a counterclockwise direction when heated and will therefore flex in a clockwise direction when cooled. The movement of the main bimetal element IOI is relatively sluggish as compared to the movement of bimetal element I01 both by design and location, and it has been found that it is best to so design and construct these two bimetal elements and the heating element for the main bimetal element, that these two bimetal elements are not normally in engagement at the beginning of a toasting operation starting either with the toaster structure at room temperature or at some higher temperature becauseof a number of immediately successive toasting operations. The mass of the auxiliary bimetal element may be made such that it responds quickly to changes in temperature, which helps in obtaining the above described operation.

Effective cooling of both bimetals may be caused by providing base plate 25 with. one or more openings II1 (see Fig. 3) and by providing intermediate wall 35 with one or-more openings II9 to thereby cause a through draft of cooling air to fiow through base plate 25, through front intermediate wall 35, through at least a portion of the toasting chamber and out through one or both openings 41 in the cover.

The following is a brief description of the operation of the device shown in Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings. Momentary closure by an operator of the normally open switch 9| causes energization of the solenoid 6|, turning movement of armature 81 with resultant closure of the control switch for the main heating elements 29. Core is energized and caused to move upwardly, member 99 cooperating with contact bars 93 and 95 to close and to maintain a holding circuit for solenoid 6|. The slow escape of air in cylinder 69 through needle valve H causes a relatively which member is adapted to engage two resiliently supported contact pins H3 and H5 which are insulatedly supported by the bottom plate 25 of the toaster structure. These respective contact pins are electrically connected to the terminals of auxiliaryheating element I05 so that energizatlon of this auxlliary heat ng element, thermally aifecting bimetal element IOI, will continue only for the length of time required for the slow downward movement of bread slice supports 3| or until the bridging member III on the rear of arm I5 engages pins H3 and H5 when bread slice supports 3i are inthe toasting position, to thereby deenergize auxiliary heating eleslow upward movement of core 65 and a relatively slow downward movement of the bread slice supports and of the contact bridging member I. Since auxiliary heating element I05 is connected in series circuit with solenoid BI, it will be energized simultaneously with solenoid BI and its energization will continue until bridging member III engages contact pins H3 and H5. Main bimetal element IOI flexes in a counterclockwise direction when heated and flexes in a clockwise direction on cooling after deenergization of the auxiliary heater I05.

Auxiliary bimetal element I01 flexes in a counterclockwise direction as a result of increase of temperature by reason of heat from the toasting chamber and after a time interval the main and the auxiliary bimetal members will engage each other and thereby short-circuit solenoid 6| to terminate the toasting operation by opening of the controlswitch for the main heaters and upward movement of the bread slice support into non-toasting position. As has already been stated, it is possible to so design, construct and locate the different parts of the terminating means that the desired sequence of operation of the different parts will be as described, irrespective of the frequency of operation of the toaster or the length of the time interval between successive operations and irrespective of variations in the voltage of the supply circuit. Twolelements which contribute to the successful operation are the use of a relatively high temperature of the main bimetal element and effective cool ing of the bimetal elements and of the toaster chamber in the interval between successive toasting operations.

Referring now to Figs. 7 to 11 of the drawings I have there illustrated a modified form of electromagnetic motor, shown as a relatively small electric motor I2I which is mounted on a suitable support in front of the intermediate front wall 35. Wherever substantially the same elements are used in the structure shown in Figs. '1 to 11 inclusive,--the details or elements are provided with the same numerals as were used in the structure shown in Figs. 1 to inclusive.

Bread lice supports I23 are vertically movable between spaced pairs of electric heating elements but in this case they are individually provided with forwardly projecting extensions I25 secured to a cross bar I21 (see Fig. 8) which cross bar is mechanically connected to an endless chain I29 traveling over an upper rotatably mounted sprocket wheel I3I supported by front intermediate wall 35 and a lower rotatably mounted sprocket wheel I33 (see Fig. Sprocket wheel I33 is mounted on a horizontally extending shaft I35 driven by a worm I31 on the shaft of motor I2I. Worm I31 engages a worm gear I39 loose on shaft I 35, and has mounted thereon a pawl I4I adapted to engage the teeth of a ratchet wheel I43 fixed on shaft I35, until pawl I4I engages a pin I45 fixedly supported on a bracket 6 (see Fig. 10), whereby engagement between the operating end of pawl Ill and ratchet I43 is interrupted as shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings.

A coil spring I41 is connected to cross bar I21 to maintain it and the bread slice supports connected therewith in their upper positions where the bread slice supports will be in non-toasting position.

Means for holding the bread slice supports and the cross bar I21 in their lowered position includes a detent I49 pivotally mounted as on a bracket I5 I the detent I49 being of bellcrank shape and having the other end thereof connected to the core I53 of a solenoid I55. The solenoid may be supported by a bracket I56 secured to bottom plate 25.

The motor driven parts include further an annular contact member I51 insulatediy mounted on shaft I35 and an incomplete flat annular contact member I59 insulatedly mounted on the in ner face of worm gear I39. When the bread slice supports are in their lowered position, at which time pawl III is inthe position shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, a projection I H on cross bar I21 has been moved under pivotally mounted detent I49 and the bread slice supports are therefore held in their toasting positions until released by means to be described hereinafter. At the time when pawl MI is in the position shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings and the bread slice supports and cross bar I21 are in their lowered positions a spring contact bar I62 engaging continuous ring I51 and a spring contact bar I63 engaging the incomplete annulus I59 will have the positions shown in Fig. 11 of the drawings, that is the motor circuit and the circuit through an auxiliary heating element I05 of the same kind as was described hereinbefore, will be open and both the motor and the auxiliary heating element will be deenergized.

A main bimetal element IN and an auxiliary bimetal element I01 a have already been described in connection with Figs. 1 to, 6 of the drawings are provided and are located in substantially the same positions as were the similar parts in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive.

A main control switch I65 is of a slightly different type and construction than that shown in Figs. 1 to 6 of the drawings and includes a pair of fixedly supported vertical contact bars I61 and IE9 and a contact bridging member "I which latter is carried at one end of cross bar I21 and suitably insulated therefrom. Contact bars I61 and I69 are insulatedly supported by or on a" bracket I13 which may be supported on base plate 25.

Reference to Fig. 11 of the drawings will show that .push button control switch 9I will initially energize the electric motor and the auxiliary heating element I05 simultaneously and at the very beginning of a. toasting operation. Contact rings I51 and I59 move substantially simultaneously with the energization of motor I2I whereby these rings and contact bars I6I and I63 will close a holding circuit effective to maintain energization of the motor and of the auxiliary heating element until the holding circuit is broken by disengagement of contact bar I63 from incomplete ring I59. This of course happens at the instant that pawl I has been disengaged from ratchet wheel I43 and the bread slice supports are in their lowermost or toasting position.

Main bimetal element I M when heated, moves in a counterclockwise direction and compensating bimetal element I01 moves in a counterclockwise direction when heated but as has already been set forth hereinbefore, it has been found possible to so design and construct these two elements that they will normally be out of engagement with each other at the beginning of a toasting operation irrespective of whether a toasting operation starts with a cold toaster structure or whether it starts with a toaster structure which has been heated up because of repeated cyclic operations.

The design and construction, particularly of the main bimetal element IN is such, in addition to meeting the other conditions already discussed, that a relatively small part only of a toasting operation is required to heat it to a relatively high temperature where it will operate in the desired manner; The time of movement of the bread slice supports from toasting into nontoasting position in either of the two modifications shown, is made such that the desired heating effect of the auxiliary heating element I05 on main bimetal element IN is obtained and I have found it possible to modify the winding of the wire or strip resistor on the electric insulating supports to still obtain uniform toasting of a slice of bread even though the same be moved downwardly on a relatively slow rate instead of the relatively high rate of speed hereinbefore provided by manually-actuable means.

It will be noted by reference to Fig. 11 that the main and the auxiliary bimetal elements control the energization of electromagnetic latch release means and particularly of solenoid I55 thereof by closing a circuit through the solenoid.

To start a toasting operation, bread slices are placed on the supports I23, which are normally in their upper positions, as shown in Fig. '7, and push button switch 9| is then closed momentarily. This energizes motor I 2I and auxiliary heating element I05. The energized motor causes tuming movement of worm gear I39, pawl I4I, ratchet I43, shaft I35 and contact rings I51 and I59. Engagement between contact bar I63 and ring I59 closes a. holding circuit so that energization of motor I2I and ,of the auxiliary heating element is continued after release of push button 9|. Bridging member III is moved into engagement with bars I81 and I99 to energize the main heaters 29. At the same time the bread slice supports are being lowered into toasting position and when they have reached this position, the outer end of pawl I will engage pin I45 and be disengaged from ratchet I43. adjustment of the various parts of the motor driven assembly is such that when pawl I is disengaged from .ratchet I43, projection I 9| is below detent I49 and contact bar I 63 is out of engagement with ring I 59, that is. the end of bar I" is in the small gap between the ends of incomplete ring I59. The circuit through the motor and the auxiliary heating element is theretore opened, further rotation of the motor is prevented and the main bimetal element begins to cool ofl. There may be a slight upward movement of the bread slice supports and of the cross bar, but this limited movement is checked by detent I49 engaging projection IIiI, so that the bread slice supports are held in toasting position.

When engagement of the main and the auxiliary bimetal elements occurs, on suflicient cooling of the main bimetal element, the solenoid I55 is energized to cause a releasing movement of detent I49 from projection I6I and upward movement oi! the bread slice supports by reason of coil spring I41, so that the toasted slices of bread can be removed by an operator. The toaster is now ready for another operation in the manner just described.

It is obvious that the temperature of auxiliary bimetal element I01 will vary substantially with the temperature of the toasting chamber or of the toaster structure sothat the duration of a toasting operation will be shorter when the toaster is heated by reason of preceding operations, than when the toaster is started from a cold condition. It is possible to so correlate the design,

construction, location and adjustment of the parts of the terminating means hereinbefore described and including particularly the two thermally-actuable elements and the auxiliary electric heater that substantially uniformly toasted slices of bread will be obtained irrespective of the temperature conditions of the toaster, the voltage of the supply circuit or other variable operating conditions.

The device embodying my invention thus provides a fully automatic intermittently operable toaster in which it is only necessary to place the desired number of slices oi. bread on the supports and then momentarily close a switch, preferably in the form of a push button, to initiate a toasting operation and to energize simultaneously not only the initiating means but also the terminating means.

My invention thus provides automatic electromagnetic motor means to initiate a toasting operation, requiring only 'a slight momentary pressure on a push button switch to close a start control circuit and start a toasting operation, which operation continues without further attention by the operator who need only remove the toasted slices of bread when they have been moved upwardly at the end of the toasting operation. I

While I have illustrated and described specific forms of means for effecting deenergization of the auxiliary heating element, my invention, in its broadest aspect is not limited thereto and the main bimetal element may itself be used to effect The design and deenergization of the auxiliary electric heating I perature.

element in substantially the manner set forth in Ireland application Ser. No. 5 ,397 filed November 25, 1935 and assigned to the same assignee as in the present application. It is further within the scope 01. my invention to use a bimetal element eflective to terminate a toasting operation when it has been heated to a predetermined temknown means for terminating a toasting operation. So long as itis operative in the same manner as the particular terminating means herein set forth and is covered by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention: 1. An automatic toaster comprising a heating means energizable only during a toasting operation, electromagnetic motor means for initiating a toasting operation, a start control circuit including a switch biased to open position and requiring momentary closing only for energizing said electromagnetic motor means, toasting operation terminating means and means for causing the energization of the toasting operation terminating means to be initiated by said start control circuit and terminated by said motor means.

perature, and means for initiating the operation of said thermal timing means simultaneously with the energization of said heating element.

3. In an automatic electric toaster the combination with an electric heating element, a switch biased to open position for controlling said heating element, and a bread slice support movable into toasting and non-toasting position relatively to said heating element and biased to nontoasting position, of electromagnetic motor means for causing closing of the control switch and movement of the bread slice support into toasting position, a push button controlled circuit for energizing said electromagnetic motor means, and toasting operating terminating means, the energization of which is initiated by said push button controlled circuit.

4. An automatic toaster comprising heating means, abread slice support biased to non-toasting position, means to cause movement of the bread slice support to toasting position, timing means for causing movement of the bread slice support to non-toasting position including a thermally-actuable element and an auxiliary heating element in heat transmitting relation to said thermally-actuable element. and a push button controlled circuit for effecting energization of said auxiliary heating element, and means controlled by said bread slice support for limiting the duration of energization of the auxiliary heating element to the duration of the movement of the bread slice support from non-toasting to toasting position.

5. An automatic toaster comprising main electric heating means, a control switch for the heating means biased to open position, a bread slice support biased to non-toasting position relatively to said main heating means and movable to I may also use any other kind of toasting position relatively to said main heatin means, means for causing closing of said switch and movement of said bread slice support to toasting position and for holding said switch closed and said bread supoprt in toasting position, a timing means for causing opening of said switch and movement of said bread support to non-toasting position after a time interval, said timing means including a thermally-actuable member and an auxiliary heating element in heat transmitting relation to said thermally-actuable member, a push-button-controlled electric circuit for effecting energization of said auxiliary heating element and means operable by said bread slice support to effect deenergization of said auxiliary heating element when the bread slice support is moved into toasting position.

6. An automatic toaster comprising main electric heating means, a control switch therefor biased to open position, a bread slice support movable relatively to said main heating means into toasting and non-toasting positions and normally biased to non-toasting position, electromagnetic motor means for causing closing of said switch and movement of said bread support to toasting position and for holding said switch closed and said bread support in toasting position, a thermal timing means including a thermally-actuable element and an auxiliary heater in heat-transmitting relation to said thermallyactuable element for causing opening of said switch and movement of said bread slice support to non-toasting position, momentarily energizable switch means for causing energization of said electromagnetic motor means and of said auxiliary heater and means causing deenergization of said auxiliary heater when said bread slice support has been moved into toasting position.

7. A fully automatic intermittently operable toaster comprising heating means, automatic means for initiating a toasting operation including electromagnetic motor means and push-button-controlled circuit means for rendering said motor means operative, and automatic means for terminating a toasting operation after a time interval including timing means comprising a thermally-actuable element and electric heating means therefor, said electric heating means for the thermally-actuable element being energized by said push-button-controlled circuit means and deenergized by said electromagnetic motor means, termination of a toasting operation being effected when said thermally-actuable element has cooled to a predetermined temperature.

8. A fully automatic intermittently operable toaster comprising main heating means, automatic means for initiating a toasting operation including electromagnetic motor means and push-button-controlled circuit means for enersizing said motor means, and automatic means for terminating a toasting operation after a time interval including timing means comprising a thermally-actuable element and an auxiliary electric heater therefor connected in series circuit relation with said electromagnetic motor means, means actuated by said electromagnetic motor means for deenergizing said auxiliary electric heater at the end of a fixed time interval, said terminating means becoming effective when said thermally actuable element hascooled to a predetermined temperature.

9. An automatic toaster com rising a main heating element, a bread slice support movable into toasting and non-toasting positions relatively to said main heating element and normally biased to non-toasting position, a normally deenergized electromagnet, operative connections between said electromagnet and said bread support whereby energization of said electromagnet causes movement of the bread support into and holds it in toasting position, a push button switch circuit for initiating energization of said electromagnet, a holding circuit controlled by the electromagnet for maintaining the energization thereof and means for efl'ecting deenergization of said electromagnet after a time interval includ ing a thermal timer comprising a thermally actuable member and an auxiliary heating element therefor, circuit connections forecausing energization of said auxiliary heating element simultaneously with the energization of said electromagnet, means controlled by the electromagnet for causing deenergization of said auxiliaryheating element when said bread support has moved into toasting positlon'and means controllable by said thermally actuable member for causing deenergization of said electromagnet and termination of a'toasting operation when said thermally actuable member has cooled to a predetermined temperature.

10. An automatic toaster comprising a main 7 v termination of a toasting operation, said deenergizing means including a thermal timer comprising a thermally responsive member and an auxiliary heating element therefor, circuit connections for causing energization of the auxiliary heating element simultaneously with the energization of the electromagnet, means controlled by the electromagnet for causing deenergization of said auxiliary heating element a predetermined interval of time after energization thereof and means controlled by said thermally responsive member for causing deenergization of said electromagnet, opening of the switch and termination of a toasting operation when said thermally responsive member has cooled to a predetermined temperature.

11. An automatic toaster comprising a main heating element, a control switch therefor biased to open position, a normally deenergized electromagnet controlling said switch, a push-buttoncontrolled circuit for initiating the energization of said electromagnet to cause closing of said switch, a holding circuit controlled by said electromagnet for maintaining the energization thereof and means for eflecting deenergization of said electromagnet, opening of the switch and termination of a toasting operation, said deenernections between said thermally responsive mem bers and said electromagnet for causing deener' gization' thereof when said first named thermally responsive member has cooled to a predetermined temperature.

12. An automatic toaster comprising a main heating element, a bread slice support movable into toasting and non-toasting positions/relative to said main heating element and normally biased to non-toasting position, a normally deenergized electric motor, mechanical connections between said motor and said bread support for causing energization of said motor to effect movement of said bread support to toasting position, a push button circuit for initiating energization of said motor, a holding circuit controlled by the motor for maintaining the energization thereof fora predetermined time interval, a detent for holding said bread support in toasting position and a detent releasing means including a thermally-responsive timer comprising a thermally-actuable member and an auxiliary heating element therefor, means causing energization of said auxiliary heating element during only the time of energization of said motor and means for effecting release of said detent when said thermally-actuable member has cooled to a predetermined temperature.

13. An automatic toaster comprising a main heating element, a control switch therefor biased to op n position, a normally deenergized electric motor, meansfor causing said motor when energized to close said switch, a push button circuit for initiating energization of said motor, a holding circuit controlled by the motor for maintaining the energization thereof for a predetermined time interval, a detent for holding said switch in closed position and means for causing release of said detent after a time interval including a thermal timer comprising a thermally actuable member and an auxiliary electric heating element therefor energized simultaneously ance with the temperature of the toaster whereby substantially uniform toasting of successive slices of bread is efl'ected irrespective of variation of toaster temperature.

17. In an automatic electric toaster the com bination with an electric heating element, a control switch biased to open switch position for controlling said heating element, and a bread slice support movable into toasting and nontoasting position relatively to said heating'element and biased to non-toasting position, of electromagnetic motor means for causing closing of the control switch and movement of the bread slice support into toasting position, means for initiating a toasting operation comprising a momentarily closed circuitenergizing said electromagnetic motor means, and means for terminating said toasting operation, the energization of which is caused by said initiating means.

18. In an automatic electric toaster the combination with an electric heating element, and a bread slice support movable into toasting and non-toasting position relatively to said heating element and biased to non-toasting position, of electromagnetic motor means for causing movement of the bread slice support into toasting position, and means responsive to movement of said electromagnetic motor means for deenergizing the same upon movement of said bread slice with said motor and means controlled by said thermally actuable member on cooling thereof to cause release of said detent.

14. An intermittently operable automatic electric toaster comprising a main electric heating element, a control switch therefor biased to open position, a normally deenergized electric motor, means for causing said 'motor when energized to close said switch, a detent for holding said switch in closed position, a push button circuit for initiating energization of said motor, a holding circuit controlled by the motor for maintaining the energization of said motor for a predetermined time interval and then deenergizing the same, a normally deenergized electromagnet for tripping said detent and means for energizing said electromagnet after a time interval, said energizing means comprising a thermally-actuable member, an auxiliary electric heating element therefor connected in series circuit with said electric motor and electric circuit means for said electromagnet closable by said thermally-closable member when said member has cooled to a predetermined temperature.

15. A toaster as set forth in claim 14 in which said electric circuit means includes a second thermally-actuable member subject to toaster temperature.

16. A device as set forth in claim 7 in which said timing means includes an auxiliary thermal member subject to toaster temperature coacting with said thermally actuable element to vary the support to toasting position.

19. In an automatic electric toaster the combination with an electric heating element, a control switch biased to open switch position for controlling said heating element, and a bread slice support movable into toasting and nontoastin position relatively to said heating element and biased to non-toasting position, of electromagnetic motor means for causing closing of the control switch and movement of the bread slice to toasting position, and means responsive to movement of said electromagnetic motor means for deenergizing the same upon movement of said bread slice support to toasting position.

20. In an automatic electric toaster the combination with an electric heating element of an electromagnetic motor means movable upon energization from a starting position to a second position, a bread slice support biased to non-v position of electromagnetic motor means for time interval of a toasting operation in accordcausing movement of the bread slice support to toasting position and closing of the heating element control switch, a control circuit for energizing the electromagnetic motor means, means for initiating a toasting operation comprising a momentarily closed switch in said circuit and a manually actuated element for closing said gizedin response to operation of the initiating means for terminating the toasting operation,

said timing means being operative to actuate said releasable means to effect return 01 the bread slice support to non-toasting position and opening of the heating element switch.

22. In an automatic electric toaster the combination with an electric heating element, a control switch biased to open switch position for controlling said heatingelement, and a bread slice support movable into toasting and nontoasting position relative to said heating element and biased to non-toasting position, of electrotoasting operation, the energization oi which is caused by the initiating means.

23. In an automatic electric toaster the combination with an electric heating element, a control switch biased to open switch position for controlling said heating element, and a bread slice support movable into toasting and nontoasting position relative to said heating element and biased to non-toasting position, of electromagnetic motor means for causing movement of the bread slice support into toasting position, a control circuit for energizing the electromagnetic motor means, timer means for terminating the toasting operation, means for initiating a toasting operation simultaneously operative to close "the electromagnetic motor means 'circuit switch responsive to operation of said initiating means.

24. In an automatic electric toaster, the combination with an electric heating element, and a bread slice support movable into toasting and non-toasting position relative to said heating element, toasting operation initiating means for effecting movement 'of the bread slice support from non-toasting to toasting position, and further means for effecting movement of the bread slice support from toasting to non-toasting position, a thermal timer having an auxiliary heater controlling duration of the toasting operation and operation of said means for effecting movement or the bread slice support from toasting to non-toasting position, and means operative to energize the auxiliary heater of the timer upon actuation of the initiating means at the start 01 movement of the bread slice support from non-toasting position and rendered inoperative by movement of the bread-slice support to toasting position to deenergize the auxiliary heater.

25. In an automatic electric toaster the combination with an electric heating element, a control switch biased to open switch position for controlling said heating element, and a bread slice support movable into toasting and non-toasting position relative to said heating element, of electromagnetic motor means for causing movement of the breadslice support into toasting position, means for initiating a toasting operation comprising a control circuit for energizing the elec-' tromagnetic motor means to move the bread slice support to toasting position, means for terminating the toasting operation controlling return of and energize the toasting operation timer means,

the bread slice support to non-toasting position, and damping means for effecting a slow motion movement of the bread slice support between its respective positions becoming operative substantially upon the initiation of movement of the support from one position to cause the support to move slowly until it reaches its other position.-

HERMAN M. BIEBEL. 

